A quick and easy cold pasta salad made without mayo, perfect for your next summer potluck or picnic! This delicious summer tortellini salad is packed with all the fresh summer flavors you love, like cherry tomatoes, arugula, and fresh herbs. Made in just 20 minutes!
Summer Tortellini Salad with Arugula has the perfect balance of cheese, pasta, and veggies. While this salad can be enjoyed any time of the year, I think it is particularly perfect for hot summer days at the park, on the boat, or at the beach.
A pasta salad is the classic side dish that shows up at every BBQ, backyard party, and birthday party. The next time you're assigned to make the pasta salad, skip the mayonnaise-based macaroni salad and try my summer tortellini recipe!
My Summer Tortellini Salad recipe is full of light, fresh ingredients, making it the perfect light lunch, cold pasta salad, or weeknight dinner.
You'll also love my Pesto Pasta Salad with Sundried Tomatoes, Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad, and Marinated Vegetable Salad.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- How to Make Summer Tortellini Salad
- Expert Tips
- Summer Tortellini Salad Variations
- What to Substitute
- How to Store
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What to serve with tortellini salad
- Salad recipes you'll also like
- Summer Tortellini Salad with Arugula
- Hungry for more?
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- 20-Minute Recipe - Easy-to-make tortellini pasta salad can be made in under 20 minutes! Less time spent in a hot kitchen in the summer is a WIN for me!
- No-Mayo - This is a no-mayonnaise recipe, making it perfect for picnics, camping, and outdoor parties.
- Easy to Make Ahead - This is an excellent make-ahead recipe that stores easily and actually tastes better a couple of hours after it is made. Simply pop it into some Tupperware and throw it in a cooler with an ice pack!
Ingredients Needed
- Cheese tortellini: You'll need a family-sized package of cheese-filled tortellini. Use either plain or multi-colored tortellini!
- Arugula: Fresh, crisp, arugula adds vibrant color and a little peppery bite to the pasta salad.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly shredded parmesan adds a sharp, salty flavor.
- Cherry tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are abundant in the summer months. They add fresh, seasonal flavors and vibrant colors to the salad.
- Additional ingredients: Ingredients added to boost the flavor of this salad include red onions, fresh parsley, garlic powder, dried oregano, kosher salt, ground black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice.
How to Make Summer Tortellini Salad
Step 1: Cook tortellini according to package instructions, drain, and set aside. Whisk the salad dressing ingredients together in a large glass mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add the cooked tortellini, chopped cherry tomatoes, diced onion, chopped parsley, and shredded parm to the bowl with the summer vinaigrette.
Step 3: Toss to combine. Once combined, carefully mix in the fresh arugula.
Step 4: Transfer the Summer Tortellini Salad to a serving bowl, serve immediately, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Cook your tortellini according to the package instructions. It is done when it floats to the top of the boiling water-this usually happens in under 5 minutes! Keep a close eye on the tortellini, and don't let it overcook. If it's overcooked, it can start to fall apart.
- As soon as the tortellini has finished cooking, drain the boiling water and rinse the tortellini with cold water to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
- If you're short on time, you can make your pasta in advance. Cook the tortellini the day or night before you will be making your salad.
- You could make the vinaigrette ahead of time too!
- I've only tested this recipe with fresh tortellini. I've never tried it with frozen or dried tortellini.
Summer Tortellini Salad Variations
- Tortellini - This is a bright and colorful salad. If you would like even more color, try making this with multicolored tortellini!
- Add protein - If you would like to add some protein to this pasta salad recipe, try adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or cannellini beans! My Grilled Shrimp and Chicken Kabobs would be perfect with this salad!
- Vinaigrette - Change up the dressing. Try a fresh basil pesto vinaigrette, Italian dressing, or balsamic dressing.
- Cheese - In addition to parmesan cheese, you could add fresh mozzarella balls or feta cheese.
What to Substitute
- Greens - If arugula is too peppery for you, try spinach instead.
- Veggies - You can Substitute cherry tomatoes for red bell peppers, corn, peas, zucchini, or any of your favorite summer vegetables.
- Herbs - Swap out fresh parsley for fresh basil.
How to Store
- This Summer Tortellini Salad will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you plan on serving it at a party, though, I would only make it up to 24 hours in advance.
- This pasta salad recipe will not freeze well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tortellini is a versatile pasta that goes well with almost all meats. I would serve tortellini with grilled chicken breast, grilled chicken thighs, shrimp, scallops, pulled pork, pork tenderloin, and steak.
Yes, tortellini is delicious eaten hot or cold.
What to serve with tortellini salad
Salad recipes you'll also like
Summer Tortellini Salad with Arugula
Ingredients
- 20 ounce package of fresh cheese tortellini
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- Juice of half a lemon
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley diced
- 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- Fresh arugula 1 large handful
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini according to package instructions. Drain the cooked tortellini, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- While the tortellini is cooking, make the vinaigrette. Add all of the vinaigrette ingredients (olive oil, rice vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic powder) to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the cooked tortellini, cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh parsley, and parmesan cheese to the mixing bowl and toss to combine.
- Carefully stir in the fresh arugula.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
- Cook your tortellini according to package instructions. Tortellini is done when it floats to the top of the boiling water. This usually happens in under 5 minutes! Keep a close eye on the tortellini and don't let it overcook. Tortellini can start to fall apart if it's overcooked.
- As soon as the tortellini has finished cooking, drain the boiling water and rinse the tortellini with cold water to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
- I've only tested this recipe with fresh tortellini. I've never tried it with frozen or dried tortellini.
- The nutrition information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.
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Ciel says
Delicious! The leftovers kept very well for the next day too.
Katie says
I'm so happy you loved it!
Pam Fox says
Looks and sounds delish! I haven't tried it yet, but if you make the vinaigrette in the big bowl and add the rest of the salad ingredients you save yourself a bowl to clean!
Katie says
That's such a great idea! I'm a fan of any and all tips that save me from washing extra dishes!
Addie says
This is perfect for summer BBQs! Yum!
Jeri says
I love tortellini and I love finding new recipes to use it in, but I never thought of a salad! This looks delicious! I will definitely be making it soon!
Nora says
I've never made a tortellini salad before, but now I have to try! Thanks for sharing!
Raquel says
This is such a nice light salad! Very tasty too!
Oscar says
Loved this recipe. Perfect for a summer picnic.